Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and
his Indian counterpart Preeti Saran co-chaired the ninth political consultation
and sixth strategic dialogue at the deputy foreign ministerial level between
Vietnam and India in Hanoi on October 24.
The two sides shared delight at the growing traditional friendship
between the two countries over the past years, especially since the two sides
set up their comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016 and through
many high-level visits.
They lauded efforts of agencies and localities of both countries in
organising diverse activities to mark the Vietnam-India Friendship Year 2017,
the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10-year bilateral
strategic partnership.
Both sides agreed to foster collaboration to prepare for upcoming visits
of senior leaders, and promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the
Joint Committee and Joint Sub-Committee on Trade.
The two sides concurred that it is necessary to seek specific measures
to raise two-way trade to 15 billion USD in 2020 as previously set, strengthen
investment promotion, minimize the application of trade defence measures on
respective products, and encourage the opening of direct air routes between
major cities of both countries.
The Indian side affirmed its support for Vietnam in improving defence
capacity, training Englsh for soldiers, transferring defence technologies and
providing defence credit.
India suggested that the two sides strengthen cooperation in cyber
security, maritime security and fighting terrorism, trans-national crimes and
human trafficking.
Vietnam and India also agreed to foster connectivity not only in
aviation, maritime and road links but also in digital technology, information, telecommunications,
while speeding up the disbursement of the 1 billion USD credit package that
India has committed to ASEAN countries for connectivity projects.
The two sides also shared viewpoints on regional and global issues of
shared concern. They will work closely with each other and other countries in
the region to optimize opportunities and minimize risks to ensure a strategic
security environment and cope with traditional and non-traditional security
challenges.
They highlighted the traditional and close coordination between Vietnam
and India at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations,
ASEAN and ASEAN-driven mechanisms.
India reaffirmed its support for ASEAN to play the central role in Asian-Pacific
architecture, while Vietnam lauded the “Act East Policy” of India and pledged
to successfully organise the summit commemorating the ASEAN-India partnership
in January 2018.
Both Vietnam and India underscored that maintaining peace, stability,
maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom benefits countries in and
outside the region. They upheld the principles of dealing with disputes through
peaceful measures in line with international law, including the UN Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while stressing the need to exercise self-restraint
and not to take moves complicating the situation, along with the full
implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea
(DOC) and the soon attainment of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The two Foreign Ministries also agreed to have more meetings to share
experience in coping with issues related to border, territory and regional
security, including maritime security.
The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh
hosted a reception for Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Preeti Saran. Minh asked
the two sides to work together in preparing for upcoming high-level visits and
effectively implement the Action Programme for the 2017-2020 period. He said he
hopes to welcome the Indian Foreign Minister in Vietnam to co-chair the 16th Joint Committee meeting in 2018.
Preeti Saran said that Vietnam is an important pillar in India’s “Act
East Policy”, adding that India has launched many projects, credit package and
technical support for Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region in general.
During her stay, she also had a meeting with Nguyen Huy Tang, deputy
head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations to talk
Party cooperation and another with Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung to
discuss the East Sea issue and maritime affiliation.
She also conveyed sympathy of her Government and people to victims of recent
floods in the central region.-VNA